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| | Vintage | 2011 |  Label 1 of 367 
 | | Type | Red | | Producer | Château Smith Haut Lafitte (web) | | Variety | Red Bordeaux Blend | | Designation | n/a | | Vineyard | n/a | | Country | France | | Region | Bordeaux | | SubRegion | Graves | | Appellation | Pessac-Léognan | | UPC Code(s) | 000002696263, 031259043623, 087000347670, 3303292608730, 3438010111015, 3438081112010, 3438081116018, 3453521208009, 3609050375600, 3700188028779, 370018802879, 3700188061684, 714153163313 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.3 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 112 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by chatters on 4/9/2024: This was as expected: bold black fruits n the fresh and wild spectrum, oaky spices,cedar and slightly chewy tannins. Smidge of pyrazine. Lovely with rack of lamb (508 views) | | | Tasted by jocelyng on 3/1/2024 & rated 92 points: A quatuor of Bordeaux for this supper. Lafite Rothschild 1996, Gruaud-larose 2009, Montrose 2006 and Smith-Haut-Lafite 2011.
My favorite was the Lafite but I was disappointed. I rated it 94 (93-94). Impressive youthfulness for such an old wine. Cassis, tobacco and lead pencil with some green pepper. Complex and long but without the concentration and wow effect I expected from a Premier Grand cru. The three other guests rated it 92.
My second close favorite was the Gruaud-Larose: I rated it 93. The others had 92 or 93 ratings. It had more fruit but it still was less rich than I had hoped for.
The Smith-Haut Lafite was also excellent, tasting younger and having classic Bordeaux character: I rated it 92, The others, 91 to 93.
The Montrose barely made the 90 mark for me: very austere, dry wood on the mouth mixed with black fruits. We were three rating it 90 with the fourth of us gaving it 94. (602 views) | | | Tasted by Sean Tay on 12/29/2023 & rated 93 points: Already entered its drinking window. Pronounced nose intensity with notes of red and black fruits, spices, violet, toast. Medium+ acidity and medium tannin. (928 views) | | | Tasted by AlphaMikeFoxtrot on 12/16/2023 & rated 91 points: Ripe blackberry, ripe blueberry, ripe black currant, tomato leaf, tobacco and green bell pepper on the nose. Agree with Englishman's Claret - only medium intensity of aromas. I wish they were a bit higher. The palate, however, is quite intense, adding graphite and black cherries and keeping just about everything else from the nose. Finishes with the dark fruits.
Medium + body, ripping medium + acid and medium tannin. Great pairing with lamb chops. Drinking very well right now; but has the structure to last another 10 years easily. If you like tertiary flavors, definitely hold this. However, no fault at all in opening one right now. (939 views) | | | Tasted by SpecialATOM on 10/14/2023 & rated 92 points: 검붉은 루비색과 훈현향 그리고 잘 어우러지는 신선한 산도와 함께 끝에는 미네랄의 짭쪼르함이 살짝 느껴지는데 탄닌의 느낌이 너무 부드럽게 잘 풀어져 있어 마시는 동안 정말 입안에서 부드럽고 전체적으로 둥글 둥글한 느낌
하지만 복잡하지 않아서 살짝 아쉬운데 사실 2011 빈티지가 그렇게 좋은 해가 아니라 많이 기대를 안 했기에 지금의 정도에 충분히 만족스럽다. 이 빈티지의 가장 적정 시음기간에 들어있는 듯 싶다. (1231 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 9/9/2023 & rated 90 points: Interestingly, the nose on this example of the 2011 Smith Haut Lafitte is indistinguishable from the last example - slightly dumb, smudged, a little smoke and graphite. It's on the palate that this surprises me, which a delectable blueberry pie, potpourri character. While I don't expect this to rocket into the top tier of SHL, it seems wise to lock bottles away for another 5 years or so and hope that the dumb nose becomes an open one, matching the articulation found on the palate.
90 (+?) (2194 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 8/13/2023: Dan Murphy's random tasting (Dan Murphy's, Martin Place): From Coravin. Brettanomyces, black plums, blackcurrant, leather, cedar, slightly meaty underpin. Juicy, fleshy, fresh/wild blackcurrant, textured burr is drying, grippy, slightly coarse, medium plus length. Hmm. (1433 views) | | | Tasted by Édifice on 6/1/2023 & rated 94 points: Bouquet of ripe berries, grilled peppers, mint, a bit rubbery. Great palate, a real pleasure to drink, lush, round, sweet berries, quite a bit of freshness but well integrated. Finish not super-long and overall not hugely complex, but also far away from a simple wine. I was a bit worried about 2011 vintage not being to my palate, so this is really a very positive surprise. It was on right after opening, and did not change too much over 3 nights. So I would say, why wait. (1581 views) | | | Tasted by Richard Nabavi on 4/27/2023 & rated 92 points: Tasted at the Magnum Club Smith Haut Lafitte dinner
Excellent colour, and a classic bouquet. On the palate it shows good complexity and concentration, but it is really quite austere and lacking in generosity. The tannins are mostly subsumed but there's some acidity which keeps it fresh. A good effort for the vintage, and a good wine to go with food, but not one which makes you want to drink it by itself.
I suspect it will last a long time, and improve over several years as the tertiary flavours develop further. (1601 views) | | | Tasted by AndrewSGHall on 12/25/2022 & rated 93 points: Very nice and in a pretty entering maturity place. Light nose is vaguely pencils and hair cream. Dark fruits and a nice richness on the spine. A bit broad and had shut down moments of high acidity at random points over 4_ hours. Very enjoyable at apex times. (2117 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 9/25/2022: The 2011 SHL is disappointing with a smudged, indistinct nose, a little rubbery, a little graphite. (3625 views) | | | Tasted by mr_rancho on 7/2/2022 & rated 90 points: Really needs a long decant of 2+ hours, but then becomes very smooth. Not a very complex and multilayered wine but rather round and quite. Very dry, mineral, and with still harsh tannins. (2726 views) | | | Tasted by O'Meara on 6/4/2022: This is a fine wine from an mixed-bag year. I decanted for 2 hours. It had very little sediment. This is more of a crisp and classical, red fruited, dry Bordeaux red. It has a nice weight and acidity for a wine in the beginning of its maturity. The tertiary notes are just barely perceptible. I don’t think this has the stuffing to be a 30-year wine, but it will definitely hold for several years. (2540 views) | | | Tasted by Sacramento Geezer on 5/14/2022 & rated 94 points: Thanks to prior reviews I chose to pop, decant and pour first glasses only one hour before we began meal. Its opening was just emerging into drinking zone at first bite and it drank like the best of Bordeaux through dinner. (2571 views) | | | Tasted by ASMB on 11/20/2021 & rated 91 points: Not as good as the last bottle. Not sure why. (2875 views) | | | Tasted by ASMB on 7/31/2021 & rated 95 points: Very approachable already. (2605 views) | | | Tasted by LiteItOnFire on 7/14/2021 & rated 87 points: 2021 Bordeaux Tasting Trip; 7/12/2021-7/16/2021 (Bordeaux): A tasting in Bordeaux of 71 wines, some of the best I have ever had and others, umm, well were disappointing. If you read the Tasting story (and my grading history) I think it will do a much better job putting this in perspective.
Smith Haut Lafitte is such a beautiful property with a gorgeous hotel, spa and multiple restaurants... they even have their own barrel maker onsite. A great way to end the day with the wife at the Spa, me tasting throughout the day and we meet back up for a tasting and then a fabulous dinner, hard to beat.
We tasted:
2011, 2015 & 2018 Smith Haut Lafitte
2017 Smith Haut Lafite Blanc
The 2011 is not their greatest wine- actually its one of the few I have had I do not like. Of the 2011 vintage, MSE is the best I have had to date but to be honest I do not search for the 2011s either... (5758 views) | | | Tasted by gsomers on 4/23/2021 & rated 91 points: This was a roller coaster. Tasted after decant and nose was great, but taste wasn't ready. About 45 minutes later sampled again and it seemed like a different wine with all the classic Bordeaux traits including a very pleasing long, lasting finish. It proved to be a short window though. By the end of dinner, say 2 hours after opening it had lost the magic, reverting back to nearly where it was at opening. Since we still have two bottles, will see if this was a bottle or vintage characteristic. At its height, it was a solid 91-92. Not so much before or after. I see why it was only $70/bottle. (3363 views) | | | Tasted by a_hare on 3/22/2021: 5 (3071 views) | | | Tasted by unc0rked on 12/6/2020 & rated 91 points: Drank this in August of 2020 as well with notes below. Will not repeat necessarily. Good bordeaux, drinking nicely with nice depth of fruit. The wine is not as harmonious or silky as a better Bordeaux or from perhaps a better vintage. Not likely going to evolve further but capable of drinking well for the next 3 to 5 years likely. (3055 views) | | | Tasted by Neuneuil on 9/6/2020 & rated 91 points: Once the dust/must went(bottle),a small first glass, and after an hourlong decant, this unfurled considerable potential, in no way representative of the challenging vintage - on the nose, and lovely texture in mouth. Perhaps only the length speaks to the 2011 origin. A solid 91 with plenty of tannins remaining though. A lot of time left for the next 3 bottles! (3143 views) | | | Tasted by phynes on 8/24/2020 & rated 92 points: Tight with harsh tannins straight from the bottle but after an hour it began to soften and show its class. Red fruits, caramel and burnt leather notes. Hard to judge where it is in its evolution but feels like it needs a couple more more years to show at its best. (2898 views) | | | Tasted by unc0rked on 8/20/2020 & rated 91 points: Solid Bordeaux. Not the greatest vintage of course but this is the type of Bordeaux that can turn on a new wine drinker to the region. Vibrant silky fruit, nice color, smooth tannins, nice finish. No flaws to really speak of. I do not see this wine evolving further but I would imagine it will continue to drink well for the next five years. It was drinking well immediately after opening and continued to get better within the first hour. It did not need a long decant. (2592 views) | | | Tasted by korniev on 5/29/2020 & rated 92 points: Very nice - this was soooo fruity and vanilla and oaky at the same time. It resembles some basic Napa cabs! Either drink now , or give it way more time (like 10+ years) (3040 views) | | | Tasted by O'Meara on 5/16/2020: Decanted for two hours and drank over the next four. This is approachable, but I am afraid that the tannins are going to over take the fruit before it gets really interesting. The tannins are sharp and brittle. Certainly the fruit could develop more nuances, but I would be careful about holding this one. I’ve got three bottles left, and I intend to drink two of them with a nice fatty steak within 24 months. The last one I’ll hold for another five years to test my theory. All in all, this is a fine wine for a lack luster vintage. Worth the $50 I paid for it. (2482 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, The Comedown: Bordeaux 2011 Ten-Years-On (Apr 2022) (4/1/2022)
(Smith Haut-lafittte Smith Haut-lafittte Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/6/2021)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Yohan Castaing
Decanter, Château Smith Haut Lafitte: 2008-2018 (6/8/2021)
(Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Let the Good Times Roll: 2015 Bordeaux from Bottle (11/30/2017)
(Smith-Haut-Lafitte) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (11/3/2015)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2015 (11/1/2015)
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/29/2015)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (1/22/2015)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, May 2014 (5/1/2014)
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/23/2013)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, October 2013 (10/1/2013)
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (7/4/2012)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/9/2012)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (4/2/2012)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Ian D'Agata
Vinous, April 2012
(Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Leognan) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, April 2012
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte (Pessac-Léognan)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, April 2012
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Mar/Apr 2012, Issue #38, The 2011 Bordeaux Vintage Unprecedented Conditions Lead to Very Mixed Quality, But With Some Truly Outstanding Gems to Be Found
(Château Smith Haut-Lafitte) Login and sign up and see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JancisRobinson.com and Decanter and JebDunnuck.com and Winedoctor and View From the Cellar. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Smith Haut Lafitte Producer website – Read more about Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte
Producers > Château Smith Haut Lafitte See map
Château Smith-Haut-Lafite has been transformed during the last decade from being a perennial underachiever to being one of the leading estates in the Graves region.
For many years it was owned by the Bordeaux négociant Eschenauer - in 1990 it was bought by former Olympic skiing champion, Daniel Cathiard. He cut down on the amount of chemicals and herbicides used in the vineyards, and fully modernised the winemaking facilities. The proportion of new oak barrels used in the maturation process was increased and a trio of eminent oenologists (including the ubiquitous Michel Rolland) were hired as consultants.
The 55 hectares of vineyards are located on a gravel ridge to the east of Château Haut-Bailly. The red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (35%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The grapes are fermented in stainless steel vats and the wine is then matured in oak barrels (50% new) for 15-18 months. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
BACKGROUND: The noble Bosq family started growing grapes as early as 1365. The property was purchased in the 18th century by Scotsman George Smith, who gave the estate its present name. He also built the manor house and exported his – by now famous – wine to England on his own ships. In 1842, Mr. Duffour-Dubergier, Mayor of Bordeaux and an enthusiastic winegrower, inherited Château Smith Haut Lafitte from his mother and brought the wine up to great growth status. Impressed by Smith Haut Lafitte's excellent quality, the Louis Eschenauer company distributed the wine all over the world starting in the early 20th century, deciding to buy the estate in 1958. After the Eschenaueur period came to an end, a great deal of money has been invested in the estate, particularly on the construction of a superb underground cellar holding over 1,000 barrels. In 1990, Daniel Cathiard fell in love with the property and joined the list of prestigious owners, firmly intending to further enhance Smith Haut Lafitte's tradition of excellence. He combined the most modern winemaking techniques and age-old methods: organic compost, small wooden vats, ageing on the lees in barrel, etc. Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanGraves Vins de Graves (Conseil des Vins de Graves) - Read more about Pessac Leogan Graves and its winesPessac-Léognan Pessac-Leognan reds:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Soil: Predominantly gravel and sandy rock, with varying proportions of clay and sandstone
Surface Area: 1,491 ha
Pessac-Leognan whites:
Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Soil: Gravel and rocks covered with sand, sandstone, and clay
Surface Area: 275 ha |
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